Our view: Continuity is key in Thompson race

Thompson Democratic First Selectman Lawrence Groh is not seeking re-election this year, and instead is running for a seat on the town's Board of Finance.

Democratic Selectman Kenneth Beausoleil and Republican Paul Lenky, a 13-year member of the Thompson Water Pollution Control Authority, are vying in next week's municipal election for the open seat.

It is a difficult choice facing voters. Both candidates are highly qualified to fill the position, and each have impressive resumes of community service and the skill sets to be effective leaders.

In terms of our endorsement, we give a slight edge to Beausoleil, based primarily on his having served on the Board of Selectmen the past four years, the continuity that he would bring to the job making the difference.

Lenky would be an effective administrator and leader. However, Beausoleil, in his meeting with the editorial board, demonstrated a better grasp of the issues and a keener understanding of the challenges facing the community.

Among those challenges is the issue of the town's volunteer fire service and the ability to meet the town's public safety needs in the future. Beausoleil, a 39-year veteran volunteer firefighter is uniquely qualified to lead on that issue.

Economic development is another challenge. Thompson is an old mill town but with a high quality of life standard that makes it an attractive community to live in. Maintaining a stable tax base through responsible economic growth incentives is critical to maintaining that standard.

Uniquely located between four major economic centers, Boston, Providence, Worcester and Hartford, Thompson has strong economic development potential to offer. Capitalizing on that potential will required strong leadership and cooperation among the different town boards and commissions.

Beausoleil has proven his leadership abilities and will serve the community well.